Iienery thomas john gilbert



(No Model.)

H, T. J. GILBERT.'

MAIL BAG FASTENER.

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Y/ www Patented Apr. '7, V1896.

AM DREW BLRAHANL Pnmuumcfusnmsfbl D C Nrrnn STATES ATENT FFICE.

IIENERY TIIOMAS JOHN GILBERT, OF ROYALTON, MINNESOTA, ASSIGJOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO CHARLES YV. BOUCK, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,663, dated April 7, 1896.

Application tiled July 29,1895. Serial No. 557,443. (No model.) i

T0 @ZZ whom t 7a2/ay concern.:

Be it known that l, HENERY THOMAS JOHN GiLBnnT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Royalton, in the county of Morrison and State of Minnesota, have invented a nevv and useful Mail-Bag Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in mail-bags, and has special reference to the means for locking or fastening the same in order to prevent access thereto While en route.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficientv construction of fastening device for mail-pouches which may be operated With the greatest possible rapidity and Which will effectively close and fasten the mouth of the pouch.

The primary object of the invention is to provide the mouth of the mail pouch or bag with an overlapping portion or iiap carrying a series of swiveled eyebolts, the latter being adapted to pass through apertures in the bag, and to employ in connection therewith a fienible cha-in comprising a series of links in the form of sheet-metal plates hinged together and formed With T-shaped slots, Which embrace the Shanks of the eyebolts and prevent the Withdrawal of the heads of said bolts When in locked position.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in connection With such flexible chain, a novel form of automatic lock which Will set itself upon simply sliding said chain in the proper direction.

In order to accomplish the object-s above enuine1ated,fthe invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and iinally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figui-el is a perspective view of a sufficient portion of a mail-pouch to illustrate the application of the present improvements. Fig. 2 isja horizontal section through the mouth of the bag. Fig. 23 is a plan view of the flexible locking-chain. Fig. a is an eleva-tion of the lock-ease, aportion of the adjacent plate being broken away to show the interior construction.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a mail-pouch of the ordinary description having an open upper end, which is reinforced upon the exterior by means of a collar 2, of leather or any preferred material.

3 designates a iiap, which is composed of leather and riveted to the mouth of the bag upon one side thereof. Betvveen this flap and the bag proper is interposed a spacing-strip i, also preferably of leather, said spacingstrip being provided with a large rectangular slot extending nearly the entire length thereof and a distance almost equal to the Width of the mail-bag at its mouth, such spacingstrip being held in place by means of the rivets Which secure Athe iap in place.

By means of the construction just described a longitudinal passage 5 is formed, in which may be slidingly arranged the flexible locking-chain, to be hereinafter described.

6 designates aseries of eyebolts, which have a swiveled connection with the overlapping portion of the flap 3, said bolts bein g adapted, when the Hap is closed, to pass through vertically-disposed slots 7 in the opposite portions of the mouth of the bag and in transverse alinement with each other.

S designates a series of slotted Wear-plates, corresponding in number to the eyebolts and adapted to receive the eyes of said bolts and to form bearing plates or supports therefor when the heads of said bolts are projected through the transversely-alining slots in the bag.

Arranged Within the passage 5 above described is a flexible chain,the same comprising alongitudinal series of sheet-metal plates 9 and l0. The plates 9 each are formedivith a T-shaped slot, as indicated at ll, said slot consisting of a vertical portion and a horizontal portion at right angles thereto. Each pair of slotted plates i) is connected by an intermediate plate l0, said plates being united by means of the usual alternating perforated ears and pintles, the same as in an ordinary hinge. These T-shaped slots are so disposed that they Will exactly register with the transverselyalining slots in the mouth of the mail-bag and through which the eyebolts pass. Thus it will be seen that when the vertical portions of the slots 11 register with the slots in the mouth of the mail-bag it is possible to insert or withdraw the heads of the eyebolts; but when the flexible chain is moved longitudinally the horizontal portions of the slots 11 will be coincident with the slots in the mailbag, thereby rendering it impossible to withdraw the heads of said bolts. The flexible chain may be moved longitudinally by means of a pair of knobs 12, which are connected rigidly to said chain and have their shanks extended through longitudinally-elongated slots 13 in plates 1l, riveted to the mouth of the bag, as shown in Fig. 1.

At a suitable point an opening 15 is formed through the base portion or collar of the flap 3 for the reception of a lock-case, (indicated at 1G.) This lock-case may be made in any desired shape, comprising, essentially, a series of perforated ears, by which it may be riveted in place, and a raised portion forming a receptacle for the locking mechanism. The base of the lock-case is depressed, as indicated at 17 in Fig. 2, and has rotatably mounted between the depressed and raised portions thereof a rotatable disk 18, the upper surface of which is inclined or cam-faced and underlies a iiat spring 19 secured at one end in any convenient manner within the lock-case rigidly and resting at its free end in engagement with a series of ratchet-teeth 20 formed upon the adjacent side face of one of the slotted plates 9 above described. The disk 1S is also provided with a slot or slots providing for the insertion of one or more wings on a key 2l. By inserting the key 21 through a corresponding opening through the lock-case and into the disk 1S the latter may be turned in such manner as to cause it, by reason of its camface, to force the spring 19 out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth on the iiexible chain. This will permit the chain to be moved lon gitudinally for unlocking the bag.

22 indicates a reinforcing plate or brace, which is secured to the inside of the mouth of the bag adjacent to the lock for preventing the bulging of the mouth of the bag at such point and defeating the proper working of the lock. ln order to prevent the accidental rotation of the disk 1S, a knob or proj ection ...3 is formed upon the periphery of said disk, which when the parts are in locked position strikes against a stop 2i and catches within a depression or offset 25 in a horizontally-disposed spring 2G in the manner illustrated in Fig. i.

27 indicates an inwardly-extending tongue or lip for preventing the lifting of the operative end of the spring 19 through the adjacent slot for the reception of one of the eyebolts, as shown in Fig. 2.

The improved fastening device hereinabove described is very simple in construction and will be found eflicient in practice. By

reason of the iiexibility of the locking-chain the mouth of the pouch may be opened to any desired extent without danger of disarranging the locking mechanism. To open the bag, the key 21 is inserted, as described, and given a quarter-turn. This lifts the lockingspring 19, after which the flexible chain is moved longitudinally and the eyebolts given a quarter-turn and withdrawn, as before eX- plained. The key 21 is nowturned backward and withdrawn from the lock-case, which allows the locking-spring to engage the ratchetteeth on the chain. To close and lock the bag, the eyebolts are inserted through their respective slots and given a quarter-turn, when by simply sliding the flexible chain by means of the knobs 12 the spring 19 engages the ratchet-teeth referred to and prevents the reverse movement of said chain.

lt will be apparent that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a mail bag or pouch, the combination with the mouth of the bag provided with transversely-alining openings, and the iiap carrying turn-buttons having a swiveled connection therewith, the mouth of the bag being provided with an inclosed longitudinal passage, of a flexible chain slidingly mounted within said passage and comprising a series of hinged plates slotted to receive and engage said turn-buttons, a series of ratchet-teeth formed on one of the plates, a locking-spring resting normally in engagement with said ratchet-teeth, and provision for throwing the spring out of engagement with said teeth, substantially as specified.

ln a mail bag or pouch, the combination with the mouth of the bag formed with a series of transversel aliniug slots, and a ap having a series of swiveled turn-buttons adapted to be passed through said slots, of a longitudinallymovable flexible chain mounted within a passage in the mouth of the bag and comprising a plurality of sheet-metal plates hinged together, certain of which are formed with T- shaped slots each having a vertical portion adapted to register with the slots in the bag or pouch, and a horizontal portion adapted to embrace the shank of an eyebolt, a series of ratchet-teeth formed upon the face of one of said plates, a locking-spring resting normally in engagement with said ratchet-teeth, and means for throwing said spring out of engagement with the teeth, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

3. In a mail bag or pouch, the combination with a longitudinally-movable locking bar or chain, of a lockin g-sprin g normally in engagement with a series of ratchet-teeth upon said bar or chain, a rotatable disk having an inclined active or working face for opera-ting upon said spring to throw the latter out of en- IOO IIO

gagement With the teeth on the locking bar or chain, said disk being mounted Within a snitable case and having a slot or recess for the reception of a suitable key, substantially as set forth.

i. In a mail bag or pouch, the combination with a longitudinally-movable locking bar or chain having a series of ratchet-teeth thereon, of a looking-spring resting normally in engagement With said teeth, a rotatable disk mounted Within a suitable lock-case and formed with a cam-face adapted to operate upon said spring for the purpose stated, said disk being provided With a key-slot and with 

